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Director back where it began

New Hopman Cup tournament director Paul Kilderry at Scarborough Tennis Club, where he played his early tennis. Picture: Marcus Whisson d410888

The new Hopman Cup tournament director started his playing career at the Scarborough Tennis Club, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and after stints playing and managing tennis stars in the US and eastern states, he is now running Perth’s biggest annual tennis event.

Paul, who lives with his Perth-born wife Turan and children Leni (4) and Lewis (1) in Melbourne, said he was photographed for a newspaper at the coastal tennis club aged 17 months and played in his first tournament at age four.

‘I spent my early years playing at Scarborough and then I went to live in America when I was 14,’ he said.

‘I was at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy for three years but played wherever dad was coaching.

‘When I was young I remember being a practise partner for the tournament (Hopman Cup)’